- We're the richest. We have more money than any other nation on earth and it ain't close.
The people in Qatar, Luxembourg, Singapore, Norway and Brunei would disagree with you on that one.
Also it depends on whether or not you see the EU as an economic union because the EU generates plenty of money too.
- We're the smartest. We have something like over half of the world's Nobel Prize winners. Our universities are the top ranked in the world.
Sure, you have the largest number of Nobel prizes. But that is also in part because the US is the biggest developed country in the world. Per 100,000 people that picture is a lot different.
- We're the most industrial. Modern industry as you know it was invented and perfected in the US of A.
In China 44% of the population works in the Industrial sector compared to 19.1% in the US. Modern industry was largely invented in the UK and the US but now it is China, Japan and the Far East who are the industrial powerhouse of the world. Only high end production is now the primary focus of the previously industrialized world.
- We kick ass. Most powerful military in the history of human civilization relative to our contemporaries
Yes, you are certainly the most powerful nation in the modern human civilization.
- We're not sissies - looking at you, France
Yea, France might be a lot of things but calling them sissies is just silly. A lot of brave French out there.
- We innovate. We invented pretty much everything in existence in the modern world, and that trend is continuing.
Yes, you are innovative but you invented pretty much in existence? But a lot of inventions are made all over the world.
- We sent a man to the moon for christ's sake. That was 50 years ago. No other nation has yet to be able to do it, even today.
Well, maybe because other countries did not think it worth the money to send people to the moon. They spent their money in other ways. Maybe they invested their money more intelligently.
- We don't have stupid royalty or aristocracies. America is the only country on earth where going rags to riches is truly seen as possible.
No, you have idiotic and lying politicians and presidents (just like most countries in the world). And most royalties are not stupid but are well respected.
- We dominate the global political scene. If America wants something done, such as a treaty, it gets done.
Well, with military power and buying power comes a lot of power. Some might see that as power, others might see that as being the biggest bully on the playground (I am not implying that but other people can see that very differently).
- Other nations need us more than we need them.
Ooh please, that was true once but with a lot of industry moving over to cheap labor countries and a lot of importing of all kinds of raw products the US needs the world just as badly as the world needs the US IMHO.
- We utterly dominate popular culture and the arts - Hollywood baby. ALL the movies that seen by a broad audience are American. We invented rock and roll, the blues, rap, hip hop, and all the modern media. We invented television, and pretty much everything that goes on it.
Yes, you invented rock and roll, the blues, rap, hip hop and a lot of other modern media but art is hugely dominated by other countries as well. And being proud of hollywood is a double edged sword
I could go on, but that's a start.
Being the greatest country is not a contest, nor is it something that can be decided on the things you have mentioned here. They might help in determining it but the US is not among the 10 happiest countries in the world.
Personally I can not say whether or not the US is the greatest country or not. It is one of the greatest country outside my own country but cannot be proved in the list you have stated above here. It is a feeling and it is no more than reasonable that every person in the US should feel the US the greatest country on the planet.
People from other countries would see it very different. That is decided on more than just facts and figures.